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Published: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 9:02 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 9:02 p.m.

DELAND -- Encouraging words from two state senators on one funding issue wasn't enough to cut through the gloom Tuesday as the Volusia County School Board reviewed projections for a continued enrollment slump and $25 million budget deficit.

"For us to believe anything is going to change is na´ve," School Board member Candace Lankford said.

She spoke after learning Sens. John Thrasher and David Simmons suggested earlier Tuesday that Volusia schools might be considered for a supplemental appropriation to make up for some of what they lose under a cost-of-living adjustment in the state education formula.

The Republicans from St. Augustine and Altamonte Springs, respectively, made their comments at a Volusia legislative delegation meeting earlier Tuesday at which School Superintendent Margaret Smith asked for a state study to re-evaluate the impact of the cost-of-living factor.

Volusia schools have lost $97 million – the most of any Florida school district – since a wage index was added to the factor known as the district cost differential in 2004.

The factor increases or discounts a district's school funding based on costs within its county for designated goods, services and wages. Salaries tend to be lower in Volusia because of its tourism based economy and the number of county residents who commute to jobs in other counties that get credit for their wages.

Even if the senators can get the Florida Legislature to approve supplemental funding, Smith said it's unlikely to be enough to offset what Volusia schools lose each year.

Deputy Superintendent Robert Moll, who oversees the district's finances, warned that changing the district cost differential by itself won't be a "panacea" for Volusia schools' money problems. The district has lost $80 million in state funding since 2007 because of budget cuts and declining enrollment.

The drop in enrollment – which costs the district state funding for each student it loses – is expected to continue for at least the next three years, planning director Saralee Morrissey told the School Board Tuesday.

After reviewing economic and population trends, Morrissey said enrollment is expected to run 60,477 next school year, down about 650 students from this year.

The gloomy enrollment and financial projections prompted Lankford to embrace the idea of selling advertising on school buses and marquees as one way to help plug the budget hole the School Board will tackle beginning in February.

<p>DELAND -- Encouraging words from two state senators on one funding issue wasn't enough to cut through the gloom Tuesday as the Volusia County School Board reviewed projections for a continued enrollment slump and $25 million budget deficit. </p><p> "For us to believe anything is going to change is na´ve," School Board member Candace Lankford said. </p><p> She spoke after learning Sens. John Thrasher and David Simmons suggested earlier Tuesday that Volusia schools might be considered for a supplemental appropriation to make up for some of what they lose under a cost-of-living adjustment in the state education formula. </p><p>The Republicans from St. Augustine and Altamonte Springs, respectively, made their comments at a Volusia legislative delegation meeting earlier Tuesday at which School Superintendent Margaret Smith asked for a state study to re-evaluate the impact of the cost-of-living factor. </p><p>Volusia schools have lost $97 million – the most of any Florida school district – since a wage index was added to the factor known as the district cost differential in 2004. </p><p>The factor increases or discounts a district's school funding based on costs within its county for designated goods, services and wages. Salaries tend to be lower in Volusia because of its tourism based economy and the number of county residents who commute to jobs in other counties that get credit for their wages. </p><p>Even if the senators can get the Florida Legislature to approve supplemental funding, Smith said it's unlikely to be enough to offset what Volusia schools lose each year. </p><p>Deputy Superintendent Robert Moll, who oversees the district's finances, warned that changing the district cost differential by itself won't be a "panacea" for Volusia schools' money problems. The district has lost $80 million in state funding since 2007 because of budget cuts and declining enrollment. </p><p>The drop in enrollment – which costs the district state funding for each student it loses – is expected to continue for at least the next three years, planning director Saralee Morrissey told the School Board Tuesday. </p><p>After reviewing economic and population trends, Morrissey said enrollment is expected to run 60,477 next school year, down about 650 students from this year. </p><p>The gloomy enrollment and financial projections prompted Lankford to embrace the idea of selling advertising on school buses and marquees as one way to help plug the budget hole the School Board will tackle beginning in February.</p>